1992.07.10 - The St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Lloyd’s Of London Sues Axl Rose

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Lloyd’s Of London Sues Axl Rose

The underwriters argue that the band could have performed at the concerts.

By Fred Faust
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

Axl Rose and his band, Guns N’ Roses, whose appearance last year at the Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights ended in a riot, have been sued by underwriters at Lloyd’s of London.

Rose and the band tried to collect on an insurance policy that insured against cancellation of a performance for any reason “beyond the control of the insured," the suit states.

After the nationally reported incident at Riverport on July 2, 1991, Guns Ν’ Roses canceled concerts scheduled for suburbs of Chicago and Kansas City, Kan., because of damage to their equipment.

The underwriters argue that the band, which they also refer to as the Stravinsky Brothers, could have performed at the Chicago and Kansas City concerts. And they say the defendants "directly caused the loss of civil control."

During the concert at Riverport, the insurers’ suit states, Rose and the band “incited the crowd to riot against authorities and security and, in the midst of the performance, left the stage after urging the crowd to destroy the stage and equipment."

Rose and Guns Ν' Roses could not be reached for comment on the suit, which was filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court. Peter B. Hoffman of St. Louis filed the suit, in conjunction with a law firm in Los Angeles.

Hoffman declined to disclose the amount of the insurance claim or to explain the reference to Stravinsky Brothers. The suit asks the court to rule that the concert cancellations are not covered by the Lloyd’s policy.

Meanwhile, St. Louis County prosecutors still want Rose on five misdemeanor counts. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dan Diemer said Thursday that Rose was supposed to turn himself in by May 11.

If he doesn't show up by July 17, Diemer said, "we'll seek to have him arrested at each concert venue this summer."